5 minutes ago, I Am A Swede said:

You're in for a real shocker. Marty's story is probably one of the most iconic from the 1990s. I won't say any more than that.    

I have my own idea what may happen... but it's only speculation based on what I've seen so far. I suspect Suede may give her AIDS if she ends ups sleeping with him. Because wasn't she and her homophobic gang saying that "only gays get it" and "they deserve it"... Something like this circles around in my head, but it may be different. I know that whatever this girl/woman touches... it spoils. She is such a sinister presence in the show. But if they do end up redeeming her, it will have to be something major. And she would have to have a real catharsis to change her ways. 

 

7 minutes ago, alwaysAMC said:

LOL, I know the feeling of googling an actor's name and you get unintentionally spoiled.  That will happen with Marty, so don't do it. I won't spoil the big Marty story coming in 1993, but it's so interesting to know she was pretty evil in her 1992 start (I didn't remember much of her during 1992 since I wasn't watching consistently nor since read much about that time of OLTL).

Susan Haskell!  She's actually married in real life to Thorsten Kaye btw (AMC/B&B).   

Oh, yes! That's the name! Thank you! And wow... TK is one lucky man, because she is really... I mean... really beautiful. She could be a supermodel if she wanted... with that bone structure. Very memorable face, a true gem for the show to have. 

4 minutes ago, Maxim said:

I have my own idea what may happen... but it's only speculation based on what I've seen so far. I suspect Suede may give her AIDS if she ends ups sleeping with him. Because wasn't she and her homophobic gang saying that "only gays get it" and "they deserve it"... Something like this circles around in my head, but it may be different. I know that whatever this girl/woman touches... it spoils. She is such a sinister presence in the show. But if they do end up redeeming her, it will have to be something major. And she would have to have a real catharsis to change her ways. 

 

Doesn't it make you wish we could have that kind of storytelling now? Back then they actually managed to redeem a character like that. It would never happen now.

Just now, I Am A Swede said:

Doesn't it make you wish we could have that kind of storytelling now? Back then they actually managed to redeem a character like that. It would never happen now.

Yes! The current state of daytime doesn't even try. (with very few exceptions) A fresh example - what Bell is doing with Remy. One day we'll hear he is an angel helping old ladies with their groceries and "forget that he was a stalker and a wannabe killer...". I am all for a redemption arc... if done with attention and sincerity. In the case of Marty... I feel they are planting the seeds. In the conversation with Viki, her trauma was exposed and we saw that deep down underneath... she is a scared little girl that misses her mother. But so do many other monsters...  - says the cynical side of me that struggles to believe someone, especially after a certain age could change that much. On my worst days I don't even believe in redemption at all. 

Catching up:

@DRW50I think too often producers/writers see gay men in terms of certain stories: coming out, gay bashing/homophobia, refusing to accept their sexuality and having sex with a woman and this coupling results in a baby. They are rarely if ever allowed to get outside this box.  I think AMC was more palatable because it was not as confrontational as OLTL's storyline.  I don't want to put down AMC--more the different reactions.  OLTL was directly calling out bigotry and that's not something a lot of people want to see. I can't see that storyline even being played out today.

@Maximthanks for the article. I can see why the AIDS project would be skeptical, but I'm glad they did it because it meant so much to so many people. 

It's so odd to me that ABC and the rest of daytime never saw OLTL worth much. IT was always AMC and GH. Even when they won best series, they only won best series and nothing else that night. I don't even think they were nominated for any acting awards that night. Crystal Chappell showed more enthusiasm for their win than the network heads in charge of the show.

 

Found this about the creation of the Billy Douglas/Andrew Carpenter story as I was looking for something else. It highlights the subversive nature of the storyline and why I think it was so special. It's from "To be Continued...Soap Operas Around the World" by Robert C. Allen.

8 hours ago, chrisml said:

Found this about the creation of the Billy Douglas/Andrew Carpenter story as I was looking for something else. It highlights the subversive nature of the storyline and why I think it was so special. It's from "To be Continued...Soap Operas Around the World" by Robert C. Allen.

Thank you so much @chrisml for sharing this. 

Up to September 7th, 1992.

⭐

"The moments of empathy that stay with us... forever"

🔷

I have to admit it, the show has succeeded in making me care about Leanne and Jason. They've almost merged into one single being - very raw, scared... but still fighting to survive. Their love and dedication to each other, especially Jason to Leanne is... are beautiful and so rare. If there is a super-couple in the show right now... - it's them! At times when they are hugging or kissing they remind me of Jack and Rose from Titanic. I will never be able to imagine Jason or Leanne without the other person now... They've gone through so much together. From Leanne teaching Jason to read... to their current struggle - these are the things that make people BOND forever. Hats off, Malone!

 🔷

 I want to dedicate part of this commentary to the character of nurse Maria. She to me embodies the best of humanity. These little moments of empathy you stumble upon along the way of your life... that you never forget. The moments that make you believe that humans are capable of so much goodness. She didn't have anything to gain from helping Leanne and Jason. Quite the contrary - she had everything to lose... Maria is just a mother, a struggling mother who saw herself in the other woman's eyes and pain. I started crying and at the same time yelling at the screen saying "Malone, stop doing this to me! Stop making me cry every single episode!" Such a touching moment. We've all met a Maria in our lives...  the purest form of empathy. 

🔷

I love where they are going with Kevin and Rachel. She to him is like Victoria was to Sloan. A protective, almost mother-like figure... I see her as the complete opposite of Leanne - she is actually a woman that cares for him and wants him to be his best self. She is not selfish, she is selfless. And played so amazingly by the actress, whose name I don't know and am scared to google... because I don't want to spoil when she is going to be out of the show. I am slowly falling in love with Rachel Gannon and I also can't wait to meet her mother Nora. We've been hearing Hank talk to her on the phone these past few episodes. I think they are preparing us for her arrival.

🔷

The comedy is gone and the show is stone-cold dramatic and sharp. THANK GOD. The aftershocks of the homophobia storyline and the QUILT are rocking the town. They are definitely not going to erase this storyline or just move on from it. They are proud of it. So... the Billy Douglas storyline is very much continuing. Now after coming out of the closet... he has to face the public and all the attention that comes with being his true self.  The other person who is having troubles is Andrew. Just as he was about to ask Cassie to marry him... that devilish man from the church came to threaten him and ask him to leave and go to Kansas.  But this time... Andrew has his father and Cassie on his side. And one surprising person too - Dorian Lord... who... the first moment she heard about what is happening, threatened to start a brutal smear campaign against that homophobic bishop. Do it, darling! DO IT!

🔷

In the end I want to talk about Sloan and Victoria. I found myself tearing up again... as usual... during Sloan's confession to Andrew about his feelings. It struck me as... so hauntingly beautiful the fact that Sloan has actually fallen in love... while having a terminal illness. He fell in love just before getting ready to die. And now... he is going to fight with everything he's got... to stay and LIVE. Because you only have ONE LIFE TO LIVE. ❤️

I'm sorry but you can't write anything more powerful than this.

 Overall - 10/10 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Clip of the day

Nurse Maria helps Leanne and Jason.

Edited September 16Sep 16 by Maxim

4 hours ago, Maxim said:

Up to September 7th, 1992.

⭐

"The moments of empathy that stay with us... forever"

🔷

I have to admit it, the show has succeeded in making me care about Leanne and Jason. They've almost merged into one single being - very raw, scared... but still fighting to survive. Their love and dedication to each other, especially Jason to Leanne is... are beautiful and so rare. If there is a super-couple in the show right now... - it's them! At times when they are hugging or kissing they remind me of Jack and Rose from Titanic. I will never be able to imagine Jason or Leanne without the other person now... They've gone through so much together. From Leanne teaching Jason to read... to their current struggle - these are the things that make people BOND forever. Hats off, Malone!

 🔷

 I want to dedicate part of this commentary to the character of nurse Maria. She to me embodies the best of humanity. These little moments of empathy you stumble upon along the way of your life... that you never forget. The moments that make you believe that humans are capable of so much goodness. She didn't have anything to gain from helping Leanne and Jason. Quite the contrary - she had everything to lose... Maria is just a mother, a struggling mother who saw herself in the other woman's eyes and pain. I started crying and at the same time yelling at the screen saying "Malone, stop doing this to me! Stop making me cry every single episode!" Such a touching moment. We've all met a Maria in our lives...  the purest form of empathy. 

🔷

I love where they are going with Kevin and Rachel. She to him is like Victoria was to Sloan. A protective, almost mother-like figure... I see her as the complete opposite of Leanne - she is actually a woman that cares for him and wants him to be his best self. She is not selfish, she is selfless. And played so amazingly by the actress, whose name I don't know and am scared to google... because I don't want to spoil when she is going to be out of the show. I am slowly falling in love with Rachel Gannon and I also can't wait to meet her mother Nora. We've been hearing Hank talk to her on the phone these past few episodes. I think they are preparing us for her arrival.

🔷

The comedy is gone and the show is stone-cold dramatic and sharp. THANK GOD. The aftershocks of the homophobia storyline and the QUILT are rocking the town. They are definitely not going to erase this storyline or just move on from it. They are proud of it. So... the Billy Douglas storyline is very much continuing. Now after coming out of the closet... he has to face the public and all the attention that comes with being his true self.  The other person who is having troubles is Andrew. Just as he was about to ask Cassie to marry him... that devilish man from the church came to threaten him and ask him to leave and go to Kansas.  But this time... Andrew has his father and Cassie on his side. And one surprising person too - Dorian Lord... who... the first moment she heard about what is happening, threatened to start a brutal smear campaign against that homophobic bishop. Do it, darling! DO IT!

🔷

In the end I want to talk about Sloan and Victoria. I found myself tearing up again... as usual... during Sloan's confession to Andrew about his feelings. It struck me as... so hauntingly beautiful the fact that Sloan has actually fallen in love... while having a terminal illness. He fell in love just before getting ready to die. And now... he is going to fight with everything he's got... to stay and LIVE. Because you only have ONE LIFE TO LIVE. ❤️

I'm sorry but you can't write anything more powerful than this.

 Overall - 10/10 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Clip of the day

Nurse Maria helps Leanne and Jason.

Wow, Maria is played by Gina Torres, who has gone on to a big Hollywood career. I agree, she is very affecting.

1 minute ago, yrfan1983 said:

Wow, Maria is played by Gina Torres, who has gone on to a big Hollywood career. I agree, she is very affecting.

I knew she was someone I had seen before!!!!! I knew it! I was just telling my husband - I swear I've seen her on that show Alias. She is absolutely spectacular.  

I went to her Wiki page and was surprised to see this OLTL entry, meaning they must have liked her so much to bring her back for a larger role a few years later. I don't remember this role, but her Nurse Gina role isn't listed at all.

1995–1996

One Life to Live

Magdalena / Nel

I could've sworn she played a hooker or something in the mid-90s.

Thanks for all these clips and the commentary, @Maxim

The actress who plays Rachel is the wonderful Ellen Bethea. 

Watching the Blair and Max clip, I come away struggling to feel sympathy for Max. I think it's down to:

- his connection with Blair, while very passionate, not being developed enough to make me feel for his sense of betrayal 

- knowing he'd had this story with Gabrielle for a number of years 

- my nagging view that James de Paiva had aged out of such material 

I would love to know what the original plans for Cord and Blair would have been if John Loprieno had stayed. A story where Cord became bored or estranged from Tina and was caught up in the Blair whirlwind, only to slowly realize unlike Tina, she could not be "tamed" (even temporarily) as she did not see her as her world the way Tina often did with Cord - that could have been a compelling departure.

3 hours ago, DRW50 said:

I would love to know what the original plans for Cord and Blair would have been if John Loprieno had stayed. A story where Cord became bored or estranged from Tina and was caught up in the Blair whirlwind, only to slowly realize unlike Tina, she could not be "tamed" (even temporarily) as she did not see her as her world the way Tina often did with Cord - that could have been a compelling departure.

What will be interesting for me is not only seeing more of JL and Korf's brief material together, but revisiting them in '94 down the road with Kassie DePaiva. I saw their reunion when she took over the role again recently, and revisited some of the other stuff with them from '94 and '95. I'd forgot how serious they actually got in that year, to the point that IIRC Cord initially thinks Blair's first (miscarried) pregnancy by Todd is his baby. They were always easy enough together but I am curious how they will play as a couple. Some have said recently that the original endgame for both was them together in '94 before Todd entered the mix, but I don't know if that's true; I think it may be pure spec.

Edited September 17Sep 17 by Vee

4 hours ago, DRW50 said:

Thanks for all these clips and the commentary, @Maxim

The actress who plays Rachel is the wonderful Ellen Bethea. 

Watching the Blair and Max clip, I come away struggling to feel sympathy for Max. I think it's down to:

- his connection with Blair, while very passionate, not being developed enough to make me feel for his sense of betrayal 

- knowing he'd had this story with Gabrielle for a number of years 

- my nagging view that James de Paiva had aged out of such material 

I would love to know what the original plans for Cord and Blair would have been if John Loprieno had stayed. A story where Cord became bored or estranged from Tina and was caught up in the Blair whirlwind, only to slowly realize unlike Tina, she could not be "tamed" (even temporarily) as she did not see her as her world the way Tina often did with Cord - that could have been a compelling departure.

You're welcome @DRW50. I think once again I have a slight advantage in this being my first ride with these characters.  Especially if Max was already in similar relationship with another woman. 

And about Cord and Blair - they were definitely writing the affair happening, before he was "killed" off. They kissed and had plenty of romantic interest in each other. I was sure it was happening and then... all of a sudden... he is dead. And I agree, this would have been more compelling. Max and Blair came as a surprise to me, and at the beginning I didn't like where they were going at all. It felt like Blair was falling in love too random... too easy... too soon after losing Cord. But with time I adjusted to it. 

 

Edited September 17Sep 17 by Maxim